About Lovebox Festival

Back in 2002, Groove Armada and Jools Butterfield were sitting in a pub, lamenting the London party scene. They were playing gigs and clubs everywhere, but thought there might be a way to put on a different kind of show in London, with more exciting line-ups.

It started with a box of records and a pack of Post-its – heart-shaped ones were the only type to hand. The record box became the "Lovebox", which became an album, and then the first party was thrown in an old strip club off Tottenham Court Road. Then followed a residency at 93 Feet East, succeeded by a stint in Ladbroke Grove, and Lovebox was selling out two weeks in advance with hundreds turning up at the door.

A year later, this success led to a one-festival on Clapham Common for 10,000 people. The year after was 20,000. A combination of solid musical reputation and a complete lack of inner London park festivals proved a potent recipe. By the Lovebox moved to Victoria Park, the line-ups were epic and the event had spread itself over two days.